Liverpool preview: Five key questions heading into 2026-27 season

What the report says

Al Jazeera previewed Liverpool’s 2026-27 season on August 21, focusing on the main challenges facing new manager Andoni Iraola. The Spanish coach, hired after Liverpool’s disappointing fifth-place finish last season, is expected to restore the club’s title ambitions while introducing a fast, pressing style that differs from the more controlled approach used before. His first league match is at Newcastle United, with the new Premier League campaign opening the same week.

The report says Liverpool’s squad enters the season with major questions after a costly title defence collapse. Mohamed Salah has left after nine years, creating a gap on the right side of the attack, while record signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are back in preseason after injury-hit, inconsistent campaigns. Liverpool have added Spain international Victor Munoz for wide cover, and academy players such as Rio Ngumoha are competing for minutes.

Defensive issues are also central. Liverpool conceded 53 goals last season and have brought in Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona, along with young centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, while Ibrahima Konate has departed. Right-back and left-back depth remain concerns, with injuries and departures leaving Iraola short of proven options. Captain Virgil van Dijk has said the new back line will need time to settle.

The article also notes off-field change, with Fenway Sports Group agreeing to sell about 38% of Liverpool to 1892 Holdings, a consortium that includes Jeff Bezos, Eduardo Saverin and the Mittal family. FSG keeps control for now, but the structure could shift within a year. The ownership move adds another layer of interest to a season already shaped by rebuilding and expectations of renewed investment.